Thomas Morinelli, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor

Tom Morinelli, Ph.D. is a Research Associate Professor in the Division of Nephrology within the Department of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Morinelli is a graduate of the Physiology Program at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. Dr. Morinelli received his post-doctoral training under Dr. Perry Halushka in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at MUSC. His laboratory has had a long-standing interest in the etiology of renal-vascular disease processes. From examinations into cellular signal-transduction pathways in vascular smooth muscle cells, mesangial cells and isolated blood platelets, to contractions of isolated segments of aorta, they have studied the role of various endogenous vasoactive hormones in the development of vascular disease. This has lead to investigations into the signal-transduction pathways for several G protein-coupled receptors such as; thromboxane A2, bradykinin, angiotensin II and urotensin II. Currently, the focus of his research is the involvement of intracellular trafficking of angiotensin II AT1 receptors in cell signaling and the relationship of this signaling pathway to the development of renal diseases such as fibrosis. To further these investigations, they are utilizing many of the available technologies of the Department, such as: laser-scanning confocal microscope and the recently acquired fluorescent imaging plate reader (FLIPRtetra). Dr. Morinelli is the facility director for this University Shared Resource Facility (https://sctrweb2.musc.edu/cores_facilities/step/5/sub_step/99). His laboratory has successfully used the laser scanning confocal microscope to visualize trafficking of a green fluorescent protein-AT1a receptor construct in HEK-293 cells and have shown that these receptors appear to localize to the nuclear membrane. His studies have been supported by the American Heart Association, NIH (SBIR), VA REAP and Dialysis Clinic Incorporated. Dr. Thomas Morinelli's Curriculum Vitae(*PDF Format)

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Thomas Morinelli, Ph.D.

Dr. Morinelli's Research Interests

Etiology of Renal-Vascular Disease

Signal Transduction Pathways

Selected Publications

View a partial list of Dr. Morinelli'spublicationsthrough the National Library of Medicine's PubMed online database.